DIY Miniature Suitcase | How to Make a Mini 1/12 Picnic Hamper

Many moons ago (2009) when I was just a teen, I was an avid reader of many craft blogs, including Design*Sponge. There are a few projects I saw on there that have stuck with me, and one of those was this picnic case:

https://www.instructables.com/Portable-Park/

I loved this project. I was obsessed. It's been waiting at the back of my mind, with the hope that one day I'd make it. I did actually buy a vintage leather suitcase, cleaned it and re-lined it, ready for the transformation. But then the case got a beetle infestation (don't ask), so now I'm finally getting around to making it...but in mini form. 14 years this has been in the making :D

I hope you enjoy this sort-of-meta, long-time-coming project!

• Kraft-Tex: I found this 'paper fabric' which behaves like thin card but is a fabric, and I thought it would be ideal for the case as it looks a bit like leather. You could instead use thin card and perhaps then paint that, or cover it with a fabric.
• Suede cord: I used a flat 3mm suede cord for the straps, but a thin leather or faux leather vinyl could also do the job.
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Strong clear glue
• Craft knife & Cutting mat
• Printer & paper (or you could cut something out of a magazine).
• Thin Card: I used cereal box card
• Small piece of faux grass
• Wire, Wire Pliers & Cutters: I used 2 gunmetal black eyepins, plus wire pliers and cutters.
• Scrap of a thin fabric: I used a piece of green polycotton
• Double-sided tape and/or a Glue stick
• Cocktail stick & a scrap of paper
• Bone folder (optional)
• Props: tiny plate, cutlery, glass etc. (optional)

I took the measurements of a small suitcase and divided them by 12 to get the measurements of my tiny case. This makes the suitcase suitable for 1:12 scale doll houses.

You need 2 x rectangles measuring 51 x 44 mm.

Draw the outline on the back of the Kraft-tex material (or whatever you're using) using a pencil and ruler, and then use a craft knife to cut the pieces out.

Then draw more lines 9 mm inside these rectangles.

Use your craft knife again to cut along the 2 lines on each short side, up to where the pencil lines intersect.

Also, score carefully along all of the other pencil lines. This will allow you to fold the sides of the box upwards, as shown.

When folding along the scored lines, you can use a bone folder (or in my case, a ruler) to make the folds nice and sharp.

Glue the boxes together using your clear glue, making sure the little flaps are hidden on the inside.

Use small scissors to neaten up the top edges if there's any excess material sticking out. Make sure the box closes nicely.

Then cut out and glue a small rectangle of fabric to the inside of the box to make a hinge. Check that the box opens and closes nicely, and leave to dry.

Give the piece of faux grass a haircut, and then glue it inside the box.

I had some bald spots, so I put some glue into those places and added some of the excess grass pieces on top to fill in the gaps.

Draw a light pencil line about 5 mm in from the edges of your suitcase, all of the way around, to act as a guide when you add the straps.

Then create little buckles in a kind-of figure-of-eight, using one piece of wire. I just did this by eye but you could draw out a guide first if you wanted. The suede cord (or whatever you're using for the straps) will need to go through the gaps, so make them just big enough for that.

Cut 2 lengths of suede cord that can wrap around the case, plus a bit extra.

Feed the end of each piece into a buckle, fold it back on itself, and glue it in place.

Decide which side you want the buckles, and then glue the straps into place, using the pencil lines as your guide.

Cut off the excess cord so that you're left with just enough to push through the buckles on the other side of the opening.

Then cut a short piece for the handle and glue each end to the top of the case.

I found a few mountain scenes on Unsplash, which you can see here:

https://unsplash.com/photos/lWAOc0UuJ-A

https://unsplash.com/photos/Bkci_8qcdvQ

https://unsplash.com/photos/P_XeNIaTRQE

and I printed these out just a little bit bigger that my case.

I used a glue stick to attach them to some cereal box card, and then cut them out.

You'll need to trim them down to fit inside the case.

Once you've chosen your favourite, glue it into the top of the case.

Note: I printed out a few copies because I was thinking about adding paint to a few of them as an experiment, then changed my mind :)

Now you can admire your cute picnic hamper!

I hope you enjoyed this DIY.